Aviation professionals and investors are taking fresh bets by launching new airlines on regional and national routes while existing domestic carriers continue to bleed and remain mired in debt.
The first to take off will be Air Pegasus, promoted by Bengaluru-based ground-handling firm Deccor Aviation. Air Pegasus Managing Director Shyson Thomas said the airline would commence services later this month on regional routes in south India. Industry sources, however, expect the airline will start flying next month because the company is yet to receive a permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Air Pegasus received a no-objection certificate from the civil aviation ministry in 2012 but its plans were held up over difficulties in getting aircraft on lease following the shutdown of Kingfisher Airlines. The airline has now taken on lease a 70-seater ATR-72 and has tied up for two similar aircraft. Air Pegasus will connect Bengaluru with Thiruvananthapuram, Hubli, Chennai, Tuticorin and other cities in the initial stage. Other start-ups too are preparing for launch. Air One, which runs an air charter service, plans to finalise its aircraft leases by next month, while Flyeasy, a regional airline with a base in Bangalore, has begun hiring pilots and engineers for its proposed fleet of Embraer jets. Premier Airways headed by NRI engineer Umapathy Pinaghapani is slated to launch services next summer, according to a media report.
Air One and Premier Airways are among six companies that received no-objection certificates from the civil aviation ministry earlier this year. Flyeasy, promoted by ABC Aviation & Training, received its clearance prior to 2014.
"Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajpathy Raju wants to promote regional connectivity and flights to tier II and III cities and we aim to do that. We will have morning flight between Bangalore-Thiruvanthapuram and will also be the only airline now flying Bangalore-Hubli. We plan to utilise aircraft for 9-10 hours daily and will have a turnaround time of 20 minutes. All our flights may not be equally rewarding but we operate a smaller plane with 70 seats. So even if we have 40 seats full we will have close to 60 percent occupancy. Our operating costs too will be low,'' he adds.
The first to take off will be Air Pegasus, promoted by Bengaluru-based ground-handling firm Deccor Aviation. Air Pegasus Managing Director Shyson Thomas said the airline would commence services later this month on regional routes in south India. Industry sources, however, expect the airline will start flying next month because the company is yet to receive a permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Air Pegasus received a no-objection certificate from the civil aviation ministry in 2012 but its plans were held up over difficulties in getting aircraft on lease following the shutdown of Kingfisher Airlines. The airline has now taken on lease a 70-seater ATR-72 and has tied up for two similar aircraft. Air Pegasus will connect Bengaluru with Thiruvananthapuram, Hubli, Chennai, Tuticorin and other cities in the initial stage. Other start-ups too are preparing for launch. Air One, which runs an air charter service, plans to finalise its aircraft leases by next month, while Flyeasy, a regional airline with a base in Bangalore, has begun hiring pilots and engineers for its proposed fleet of Embraer jets. Premier Airways headed by NRI engineer Umapathy Pinaghapani is slated to launch services next summer, according to a media report.
Air One and Premier Airways are among six companies that received no-objection certificates from the civil aviation ministry earlier this year. Flyeasy, promoted by ABC Aviation & Training, received its clearance prior to 2014.
"Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajpathy Raju wants to promote regional connectivity and flights to tier II and III cities and we aim to do that. We will have morning flight between Bangalore-Thiruvanthapuram and will also be the only airline now flying Bangalore-Hubli. We plan to utilise aircraft for 9-10 hours daily and will have a turnaround time of 20 minutes. All our flights may not be equally rewarding but we operate a smaller plane with 70 seats. So even if we have 40 seats full we will have close to 60 percent occupancy. Our operating costs too will be low,'' he adds.
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